Do you think the Vatican summit and actions resulting from it will lead to significant improvements in the handling of the ongoing abuse crisis?

Yes

No

FILE- In this Feb. 5, 2019, file photo trader John Panin works on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange. The U.S. stock market opens at 9:30 a.m. EST on Monday, Feb. 11. (AP Photo/Richard Drew, File)

Stocks open higher ahead of US-China trade talks

February 11, 2019 - 10:32 am

The Associated Press

NEW YORK (AP) — U.S. stocks were mostly higher in early trading Monday as Wall Street nears the end of a relatively strong earnings season and looks ahead to key trade talks between the U.S. and China.

U.S. Treasury Secretary Stephen Mnuchin is leading a delegation set to meet with Chinese officials on Thursday and Friday. The talks are aimed at resolving a trade war that threatens to stunt global economic growth, in part by raising prices on goods for consumers and companies. The situation could get worse when a truce on tariffs expires in early March.

Economists' fears of a global slowdown were given additional fuel from a report Monday showing Britain's economy had its slowest economic growth since the aftermath of the global financial crisis. Both Europe overall and China are already contending with slower growth.

Corporate earnings are so far mixed on a light day for reporting. The owner of Tim Horton's and Burger King, Restaurant Brands, jumped after reporting strong earnings results. Commercial insurer Loews plunged on a fourth-quarter loss caused by higher catastrophe losses.

OVERSEAS: European markets were mostly higher, though the British FTSE 100 fell. Asian markets were also mostly higher.

The British economy grew by 1.4 percent in 2018, its slowest rate of growth since 2009. Uncertainty around the nation's so far messy departure from the key European trading organization played a major role in stunting growth. Britain is also dealing with wider global trends, including higher tariffs.